Ossanda Líber: The New Face of Lisbon's Politics as Nova Direita Candidate

Ossanda Líber Announces Candidacy for Lisbon City Hall

The president of Nova Direita (ND), Ossanda Líber, has officially declared her candidacy for the presidency of the Lisbon City Council in this year's local elections, as announced by the party on Thursday. This announcement coincides with the first anniversary of the ND.

"For a safer and smarter Lisbon, focusing on housing, entrepreneurship, security, and reforming local governance," stated ND in their press release, highlighting their electoral program. The formal announcement of her candidacy will take place on January 25, during the party's National Council meeting.

Key Electoral Program Details

The ND's electoral program for the Lisbon council will be unveiled in March. The party positions itself as "the force that Lisbon needs." Ossanda Líber emphasized, "Lisbon needs security, dynamism, and concrete solutions for residents to continue living in their city," promising the most ambitious program ever proposed for the municipality.

Previous Election Experience

In the last local election on September 26, 2021, Ossanda Líber was an independent candidate for the Lisbon City Hall under the movement Somos Todos Lisboa, securing 864 votes (0.36%) for the council and 1,064 votes (0.44%) for the municipal assembly.

Aged 47, Ossanda Líber was born and raised in Angola, later living in France before moving to Portugal in 2004. She is married with four children and has been shaped by family values, empathy, love for others, religion, and respect for tradition.

After her independent candidacy in 2021, she became the vice-president of the Aliança party in 2022, founded by Pedro Santana Lopes, and led the party's list for the European circle in the legislative elections on January 30, 2021. In 2023, she founded Nova Direita, assuming the leadership role.

Reflecting on her decision to move to Lisbon 20 years ago, she noted it was for its reputation as a safe and clean city that showed signs of dynamism, which she feels have since deteriorated.

"I will dedicate my strength, pragmatism, and ideas to the city I love, highlighting the multicultural nature of my candidacy, along with leadership, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and resilience," she stated.

At this point, the only other announced candidate for the upcoming local elections is João Ferreira from the CDU coalition (PCP/PEV).

In the 2021 elections, Carlos Moedas of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) was elected as the president of the Lisbon City Council with 34.25% of the votes, taking over from the PS, which held the position for the previous 14 years. Currently, the City Council executive for the 2021-2025 term consists of 17 members, including representatives from various parties, with Carlos Moedas (PSD) leading without an absolute majority.